Undergear for go-carts and the like.



7 No. 805,209. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

H. KITGHIN.

UNDBRGEAR FOR GO-OARTS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 805,209. PATENTBD NOV. 21, 1905: H. KITGHIN.

UNDBRGEAR FOR GO-GARTS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

222M i9 ly UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY KITOHIN, OF MIDDLE PARK, NEAR MELBOURNE, VICTORIA,

AUSTRALIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed January 27, 1905. Serial No. 2%,933.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY KIToHIN, mechanical engineer, a subject of theKing of Great Britain, residing at 9 Park road, Middle Park, near Melbourne,in the State of Victoria, Australia, have. invented ImprovedUndergears for Go-Carts and the Like, of which the following is aspecification.

With go-cartsand the like at present in use the fixed legs on theforward part thereof, on which said cart rests when not in use, are asource of trouble and comparative danger by reason of their strikingstones, gutters, and

other uneven and protruding portions of the ground. Another disadvantageWhich accompanies these carts is that when at rest on any incline theyare liable to start off of their own accord, an occurrence often fraughtwith considerable danger to the occupant. This action is made possibleby reason of the fact that the greater part of the Weight of the cart isborne by the wheels, the forward legs only lightly touching the ground,and thus occasioning very little friction.

It is with the object of overcoming these defects that I have devisedthis invention, which simply and efficiently removesboth of same by theone operation.

In order to facilitate a clear understanding of the means by which thisis accomplished, I will refer to the accompanying drawings, of whichFigure 1 is a perspective view with parts removed of a go-cart with myimproved undergear; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation with parts of thecart removed and the axle locked in its normal position, while Fig. 3 isa front elevation of same.

The cart is provided with the usual approximately V-shaped frames 1, oneon each side thereof and extending along the length of the cart in sucha way that the apex of said frame is situate in advance of the normalposition of the axle 2. Beneath the body 3 of the cart and suitablyjournaled in a pair of downwardly-projecting lugs A is a crank-bar 5.One end of this crank-bar is bent, as at 6, and has attached to itsouter end a cord 7, which extends through suitable tubing 8 or-guides t0the handle-bar 9. Depending from said crank-bar and revolubly mounted onsame are a pair of arms 10, which, if desired, may be made integral, asin Fig. 1. These arms 10 are securely attached, by means of rivets 11 orthe like, to the axle-bar 2 and are of such a length that said axle-barjust clears the above-mentioned frame 1. A spring clip or catch 12 isalso pivotally mounted upon a longer lug 13, fixed to the under side ofthe body 3, and. is so arranged in order to hold the axle-bar 2 firmwhen in its normal position. Upon said axle-bar2 and at its middleportion is also arranged a projecting arm 14:, in which is journaled, asat 15, a rigid bent piece 16, attached at its forward ends to dependinglegs 17, which are hinged, as at 18, to the body of the cart and arenormally held up in an approximately horizontal position, as shown inFig. 2. -A stop 19 is also provided in front of said legs to limit theiroutward movement. Upon said crank-bar 5 is mounted or bent a projectingpart 20, which engages one end of said spring clip or catch 12.

It will thus be seen that when in the normal or traveling position theaxle-bar 2 is firmly held in place between the frame 1 and the springclip or catch 12, while at the same time the depending legs 17 are drawnup and held in an approximately horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2,so as not to impede or otherwise obstruct the progress of the cart. Whenit is desired to rest, the cord 7 is pulled, partially rotating thecrank-bar 5. The projecting part 20 is thus brought to bear on thespring clip or catch 12 and operates same, so as to release the axle-bar2. The handle-bar 9 is then slightly raised and the cart is supported"on the small wheels 21, when the axle-bar 2, carrying the main wheels22, swings forwardly,at the same time depressing the legs 17. The legs17 now being in the position shown in Fig. 1 will contact with theground and bear the main weight of the cart, thus obvi ating anypossibility of the cart moving on its own accord, even on a steepincline.

My gear is so arranged that the usual underframes at present in stockmay be generally'utilized therewith, and even on carts alreadymanufactured it is an easy matter to further attach my improvements.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is- 1. Improved undergear for go-carts and the likeconsisting of a swinging axle-bar, a spring-clip for normally retainingsame in position, a pair of approximately V shaped frames, acrank-baroperating said spring-clip, and means for operating said crank-barsubstantially as herein described.

2. Improved undergear for go-carts and the like consisting of a swingingaxle-bar revolubly-mounted arms on which said axle-bar is fastened, aspring-clip for normally retaining said axle-bar in position, means foroperating said clip, a pair of hinged legs, a rigid bent piece attachingsaid legs to the axle-bar substantially as described.

3. Improved undergear for go-carts and the like consisting of a swingingaxle-bar revolubly-mounted arms on which said axle-bar is fastened, aspring-clip for normally retaining said axle-bar in position, acrank-bar operating said spring-clip and on which said arms arerevolubly mounted, a cord for operating said crank-bar, a projecting armmounted on said axle, a rigid bent piece journaled therein, a pair ofhinged legs to which said bent piece is attached and a stop to check theforward motion of same, substantially as herein de= scribed andillustrated.

4:. In an undergear for go-carts and the like, a swinging axle-bar incombination with a spring-clip for normally retaining the axlebar in afixed position, means for operating the said clip for releasing theaxle-bar, and means cooperative with the swinging axle-bar forming astop to check the forward motion of the go-cart and the like.

5. In undergear for go-carts and the like, a swinging axle-bar, aspring-clip for normally retaining same in position and a pair of hingedlegs attached to said axle-bar substantially as herein described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

HARRY KITCHIN. l/Vitnesses:

EDWARD VVATERs, EDWARD NEEDHAM VVATERs.

